OSNews: http://www.osnews.com/story/15973/The_Elaboration_Likelihood_Model_Why_People_Won_t_Switch
Exploring the Future of Computingen-usCopyright 2001-2015, David Adamsadam+nospam@osnews.comSun, 02 Aug 2015 22:52:02 GMThttp://www.osnews.com/images/osnews.gifOSNews.comhttp://www.osnews.com
Rather the EWNM...http://www.osnews.com/thread?165718
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165718i.e., the 'Elaborate Wireless Networking Model' as a better explanation for why users will not switch...or end up swiching back?! ;-)

Seriously, although I take the caveat that this is just a model of reality really the further and proper question should be, "how many people who did buy AND install Zeta found it did what X previous OS had been doing for them, did it less well, or better." (say, based on their current hardware)

LOL.. I should print that one a billboard Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:23:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (UglyKidBill)CommentsMOMhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165724
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165724What would have been nice is a greater exploration of techniques to "get morons on-message".Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:32:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (twenex)CommentsA simpler answerhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165725
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165725A simpler answer, based on my own "simplified model":

"Windows comes pre-installed. The End."Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:36:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (PowerMacX)Commentspre-installed OShttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165726
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165726What about the fact that the majority of new computers come with an OS pre-installed? I would venture to guess that the vast majority of today's computer users stick with whatever OS came with their machine. Most users have never (re-)installed an OS from scratch and don't care enough to be bothered.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:36:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (brother bloat)CommentsRE: pre-installed OShttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165730
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165730Most users have never (re-)installed an OS from scratch and don't care enough to be bothered.

Yes. Which is exactly what I'm saying. I'm speaking of switching, remember?Edited 2006-09-26 16:45Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:43:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Thom_Holwerda)Comments.http://www.osnews.com/thread?165738
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165738It costs (be it time,learning curve) something in advance and it's because of lack of sufficient information uncertain what to gain.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:02:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (netpython)CommentsI bought it because television told me tohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165739
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165739But then I remembered that I don't want to use the BeOS.

Switching isn't just a matter of processing arguments. It doesn't, for example, matter if you can persuade someone to move to a different operating system if they cannot use that operating system. If they cannot install an operating system, regardless of whether they purchase it or not after being persuaded by your argument, they may never actually use it. If they cannot run the operating system without buying a new computer, they may simply not be able to afford to buy it no matter how thoroughly you have convinced them that it is a better alternative. There is also the problem of them not being able to switch if they depend upon software or hardware that does not work with the operating system, no matter how compelled they are to switch by your argument. If they switch to the operating system, and find that it is completely alien to them and they cannot do what they want, they may simply go back no matter how thoroughly you have convinced them that it is superior.

Argument processing is simply the initial phase in any movement, because outside of purely ideological things, after someone has been persuaded to a position they need to actualize the position and that has many of its own impediments.

Though it is interesting how fringe operating system and programming language fans have similar hang-ups with the activities of others. Why don't the "stupid" get how totally awesome my $OBSESSION is? It's like, totally better.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:05:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Get a Life)CommentsNice articlehttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165740
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165740And in line with my daily experiences. Digg it! http://digg.com/linux_unix/The_Elaboration_Likelihood_Model_Why_Peo...

No, that's arrogant BS being spewed by a technophile with a poor grasp on humanity. People understand implicitly that there are messages that they simply don't care about. Does that make them stupid? No, it makes them efficient. They don't waste time thinking about messages that have little value to them.

For example, people regularly travel on aircraft without understanding (or caring) whether the aircraft were made by Boeing or AirBus, the engines by Pratt-Whitney or McDonnell Douglas, etc. But there are very real differences between the aircraft (ie. amenities, comfort, performance, fuel-consumption, etc) that are well understood by domain experts. Should they care? No, of course not. They simply want to use the aircraft to get from one location to another. It's a tool, a means to an end. The minutia have little bearing on their lives.

Same deal with operating systems. The overwhelming majority of people get their OS installed when they buy their machines. They're not sitting in their parents' basements, dorm rooms, or geek headquarters, installing it themselves. So, an alternative is better? Big deal. It has to be not only significantly better -- in a tangible way, not just geekery -- but make a meaningful change in their lives; otherwise, they simply have no incentive to change.

Consequently, all about incentives for change. If there are insufficient incentives, then nobody changes. Linux and OS X, while good alternatives, aren't good enough for most people to justify the migration. Perhaps that will change over time. I'm skeptical. But only time will tell.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:08:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (tomcat)CommentsRE[2]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165743
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165743No, that's arrogant BS being spewed by a technophile with a poor grasp on humanity.

You're not getting it. I do not grasp the string theory, nor do I grasp quantum computing, hence I am too stupid to process that information.

Same goes for operating systems.

They simply want to use the aircraft to get from one location to another. It's a tool, a means to an end. The minutia have little bearing on their lives.

EXACTLY! Hence they do not care about what operating system they are running, hence they are not involved in the subject, hence the information related to operating systems you feed them does not get processed centrally.

It has nothing to do with stupidity. People filter. That isn't an exercise in stupidity.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:22:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (tomcat)CommentsRE[4]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165749
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165749It has nothing to do with stupidity. People filter. That isn't an exercise in stupidity.

Of course it is. I know enough people who won't even know what an operating system is! Hence, they are too stupid in this particular subject to be able to process information about this subject.

It's not rocket science, really.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:24:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Thom_Holwerda)CommentsRE[3]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165754
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165754Stupidity and ignorance are not the same thing. You might be too stupid to understand something, but it does not follow that those ignorant of another subject are too stupid to understand it. I am sure that within the realm of my expertise there exists many things that you could not comprehend, but that given sufficient time that I could teach you the necessary information to understand arguments about. There may also be matters for which you are simply not capable of ever really grasping, no matter how much effort that I expend.

There may be those unable to grasp a discussion of the merits of say the MacOS vis-a-vis Windows, however your blunt shortcut does more to explain why people might dismiss your argument: you throw the characterizaton of stupid around casually in with a flamewar issue of MacOS vs. Windows. That couldn't end badly!Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:34:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Get a Life)CommentsRE[5]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165755
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165755I think we're in agreement on the fundamentals. But I don't agree with your free-wheeling use of the term "stupidity" when, in fact you mean "lack of knowledge".Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:35:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (tomcat)CommentsRE[6]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165757
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165757I think we're in agreement on the fundamentals. But I don't agree with your free-wheeling use of the term "stupidity" when, in fact you mean "lack of knowledge".

Note how I said: "To put it bluntly".

One of my character traits is that I like to a) simplify things, and b) use hyperboles. Combine these two traits, and you understand where I'm coming from .Edited 2006-09-26 17:50Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:38:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Thom_Holwerda)CommentsMonopolyhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165758
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165758Lets keep things simple.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:49:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (cyclops)CommentsLet's start with motivation.http://www.osnews.com/thread?165761
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165761> Let's start with motivation.
Let's start with hardware and software support.
My computer is not usable with Linux.
My favourite program does not run well on Linux (even in Wine).
My favourite web browser does not run well on Linux.

It's this simple: If you want me to use an operating system it must run on my computer and it must run programs capable of performing the tasks I want to perform.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:57:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Invincible Cow)CommentsRE[7]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165764
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165764One of my character traits is that I like to a) simplify things, and b) use hyperboles. Combine these two traits, and you understand where I'm coming from .

There are three kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:04:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Cloudy)CommentsTeleshopping?http://www.osnews.com/thread?165766
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165766As an infomercial (teleshopping) junkie I love to watch those in the late hours. Sick and twisted, I know. I wasn't aware that Zeta had an infomercial, if anyone has a link to where I can view it I would be most grateful. I get to see Zeta in action and I'm curious about how they are marketing it in the infomercial.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:10:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (TaterSalad)CommentsWrong statementhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165769
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165769'if the alternatives to Windows are so much better, why aren't people en masse switching to them'

If the alternatives to windows were so much better, many people would switch, but they are not.

And I do use linux 90% of my time(Fedora core 5), but I still think it sucks in many ways. But for what I do, it sucks less then windows, in the areas importent to me.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:16:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (mtilsted)CommentsSimplehttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165775
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165775I've used a lot of operating systems and I know why I have not switched to any of them. It's because I like Windows better. Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:29:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Zoidberg)CommentsPreinstalledhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165780
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165780Preinstalled OS fits nicely in this argument.

Consider some peripheral points:
---------------
Dell, HP, or whoever KNOWS what they're doing. So if they install windows, it must be pretty good.

Similarliy, MS is a brand name. It must be higher quality.

Only nerds use linux. I just want a computer. I don't care about what goes on inside.
---------------
So some regular user not willing to go though the central route is going to pick up on these queues and go the peripheral route to determine that windows should be their choice.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:50:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Yamin)CommentsRE[8]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165781
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165781You can combine the two of his character traits into one and it makes sense.
Let's discuss Thom, it's an amusing thing to do.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:54:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Buck)Commentssmart peoplehttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165782
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165782"To put it bluntly: stupid people are unable to process complicated messages."

And smart people try to not waste their time processing complicated messages. That's why I try to stay away from Unix unless necessary Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:56:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (stew)CommentsRE[6]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165784
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165784Perhaps a metaphor is appropriate:

I don't know how to write Ruby on Rails. By being proficient with PHP/MySQL, I've pretty much proven it's not because I'm too stupid, I could learn it, it's just that I haven't expressed an interest in knowing it or haven't gotten around to it.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:58:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Adam S)Commentszealotryhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165786
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165786Unfortunately, "when trying to convert Windows users to another platform, advocates often try to appeal to those users' central route of processing information" and do it in a manner that is completely opposite to "communicator's physical appeal, glib speaking style, or pleasant association". Most often those appeals come in forms like "Mac OS X is light years ahead of MS Windoz" or "I guess you like running spyware and having you computer crash all the time, otherwise you would've installed Linux by now"Edited 2006-09-26 19:04Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:02:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (A.H.)CommentsThought and Actionhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165787
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165787You need a situation in which a decision is necessary before you get serious thought. Sometimes its having to buy a new computer because the old one is clearly not performing that forces a decision. Shall you replace it with another Mac or go to Windows. At that point all your dissatisfactions crystalize, you formulate a coherent argument, and decide.

Sometimes its a growing worry about security, and you realise you cannot be sure you are running Windows securely, and have to do something different now.

Or, you have almost no money and your old Quadra dies on you. Your support person says, either spend 800 on a new Mac, or buy a white box base unit for 200, keep your existing screen, and run Linux on it. You think about that holiday you've been looking forward to and you say, go for it.

But its only when a decision of some sort is necessary that most people think seriously about OSs.

I don't agree with Thom on one thing. In decision mode, most people are very able to think intelligently about what is right for them in the way of an OS. They usually discuss it coherently and intelligently and take on board whatever arguments and facts you offer, and they have a pretty good idea of what they need and what's right for them. But I agree, in the abstract, its not something that interests them.

Its not too different from cars. When their car needs replacing is when most people start to think properly about it. Before then they just feel, why bother?Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:04:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (alcibiades)CommentsRE: A simpler answerhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165788
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165788That doesn't make people lazy or stupid. When you bought a new car, did you immediately re spray it or replace the engine with a better and more powerful one? No? Why not... because the car all ready came with a an engine. I guess that makes you stupid?!?

This 'people are too stupid idea' can apply to loads of things... your a geek so you use it for OS's. It makes you feel better than other people. Manta drivers, for example, use the 'people are too stupid idea' with cars. A lot of Manta drivers would think your an idiot for using your car as is... and buying a car from a dealer, well that's just like buying a Dell pre-installed with Windows.

Maybe you should learn about Psychology before you take shots at it... and not that 'I can read your mind' crap you see in American films - I mean real Psychology. You may find it useful and will probably benefit your life.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:11:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Coxy)CommentsRE: Let's start with motivation.http://www.osnews.com/thread?165789
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165789Hear, hearTue, 26 Sep 2006 19:13:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Coxy)CommentsRE[2]: A simpler answerhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165790
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165790I mean real Psychology. You may find it useful and will probably benefit your life.

I've studied Psychology at the VU University here in Amsterdam for two years, so I kind of find your remark, well, off the mark.

When you bought a new car, did you immediately re spray it or replace the engine with a better and more powerful one? No? Why not... because the car all ready came with a an engine. I guess that makes you stupid?!?

Sigh. What part of 'switching' don't you understand?Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:15:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Thom_Holwerda)CommentsRE: MOMhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165794
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165794Well, you get them "on message" by not supporting them on the OS you have no interest in supporting. They suddenly process centrally, because you offer them the choice between computing hell (they can't support themselves) or the convenience of having a support geek. The motivation to follow your "advice" increases dramatically.

Yes, it is coercion MS style. It does however increase use of the OS that you care about. You just have to be harsh: "I don't do Windows".

It is not about merits. It is about shoving it in their face. In time they will get used to GNU/Linux and just use it without thinking about why they use it in the first place.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:23:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (r_a_trip)CommentsRE: Teleshopping?http://www.osnews.com/thread?165799
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165799As an infomercial (teleshopping) junkie I love to watch those in the late hours. Sick and twisted, I know. I wasn't aware that Zeta had an infomercial, if anyone has a link to where I can view it I would be most grateful. I get to see Zeta in action and I'm curious about how they are marketing it in the infomercial.

Do you speak german? To my knowledge the infomercial was or still is run in germany.

On a side note, I think refering to regular users who aren't necessarily technically inclined as stupid isn't the best way to attract them to an alternative platform.Edited 2006-09-26 19:55Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:49:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (atezun)CommentsRE[2]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165813
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165813I would replace the word stupid with ignorant, but other than that, I completely agree with the original poster.

People are lazy by nature and don't bother to analyze information and make radical changes in their lives based on new things learned. A few people do, and it is those people who usually end up filthy rich.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:25:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Clinton)CommentsWHO FRIGGIN CARES!!!!!http://www.osnews.com/thread?165815
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165815I am so sick of these dang "why I switched to this" or "why people won't switch to this" type articles... I mean this dead horse has been beaten to a pulp already. Please write about something else!!!!!!!!!!!!!Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:40:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (redbarchetta)CommentsRE: Let's start with motivation.http://www.osnews.com/thread?165819
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165819You're right on the mark.

Because when you're switching OS, you're not only learning a new OS, you have to find and learn all the replacement softwares you had under Windows.

And if you are REALLY switching, you should not use Wine... Why running unstable (because of Wine) Windows apps under Linux?

So you need a big motivation in order to change OS and learn a bunch of new softwares... And in this world, that means you really need to HATE Windows to the bones in order to switch...Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:46:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (truckweb)CommentsRE[2]: A simpler answerhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165826
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165826"That doesn't make people lazy or stupid. [...]Maybe you should learn about Psychology before you take shots at it..."

I didn't say anything about people being stupid, yet you assumed that's what I meant? What would Freud infer from that...? ;-)Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:04:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (PowerMacX)CommentsRE[2]: MOMhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165833
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165833Heh!Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:26:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (twenex)CommentsRE[2]: MOMhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165834
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165834This does seem to be the most effective. A common tactic is this:
I will not reinstall Windows for you. In order to continue to get free tech support from me (a $60 an hour value -- in Iowa) you must move to Linux. This will require an adjustment on your part, but it will be much better than using the broken Windows install you have now.

It's often softened with, "if you hate Linux enough, after a month, I'll put Windows on for you."

The softening convinces users they can take the month of torture. And sometimes they end up liking it!

Of course, often, they'll just find another geek. And if they do that: More time for you to do something you enjoy!

Some of us have already found other ways to not work on people's computers for them. My personal favorite is not associating with many people who would ask me .

--There's nothing worse than someone standing over your shoulders asking you what's wrong while you're trying to figure out what's wrong and then doubting your intelligence because you couldn't identify the problem instantaneously.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:29:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (ma_d)CommentsRE[3]: A simpler answerhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165835
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165835That you're sexually attracted to stupid people and so you should probably be a practicing psychiatrist.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:30:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (ma_d)CommentsRE[2]: A simpler answerhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165836
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165836I don't get it, where did he say anyone was stupid or lazy? Did you click the wrong reply link?

-1 for reading in.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:32:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (ma_d)CommentsPersonal preferencehttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165840
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165840Where does personal preference come in on the elaborately obtuse psych flowchart? Can someone be smart enough to understand the issues, and still decide not to switch?

I am not a stupid person. I have used, and written software for, many operating systems. I currently dual boot between Windows and Linux, and I have half a dozen other OSs loaded up in virtual machines. At the end of the day, I keep coming back to Windows. Why? Because I get more done there. Other people may get more done in other environments. Good for them! Isn't it great to live in a day and age when we have that choice. But don't think that your choice is the right one for me, and don't think that I make my choices because I'm too stupid to make yours.

Maybe the zealots are too stupid to process the fact that many people, after having heard the facts, just don't *want* to switch.

Besides, this whole exercise is based on the flawed premise that Linux or OSX is "better" than Windows anyway. That's subjective at best. For me and what I do, it's a false premise. Are you too stupid to get that?

Let me be blunt - It's a stupid article, a stupid debate, and anyone that doesn't completely agree with me is just too stupid to understand what I'm saying. So there.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:45:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (siebharinn)CommentsMarketing and ignorancehttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165845
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165845The salesmen prefer to SELL something that can handle a lot of (fancy) peripherals (ie. sony atrac players, pocketpcs, and some other windows only devicers) so their customers will come again and BUY a lot of software (and h/ware). They only want to SELL this "OS".. even there are BETTER than it!

Just look at (almost) any (branded) pc and every laptop (exept macs) => THEY ALL have win licence on them! This forces the most of their owners to KEEP that OS and not to "sacrifice" it (even they paid for it without to know that) for a new "uncertain-supported" -according to the salesman- OS...

..and I am "talking" about a majority of "customes" young people that HAVE no IDEA about OS/computers.. just they want (too) something to do "everything" including games (what else..)

Its a marketing BRAINWASHING.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:54:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (csynt)CommentsSummaryhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165853
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165853Can't the article really be summarized as "People care when the difference matters to them, and most people don't care?"

Seriously, all this proves is what the Luis Villa article said: If Linux is going to take off, it's going to have to come preinstalled so that people can buy it and not worry about it.

'Not worry' does require a degree of hardware and software support Linux may (or may not) have yet. But that's yet another Linux on the Desktop rant.Tue, 26 Sep 2006 22:51:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (DigitalAxis)Commentshuh? http://www.osnews.com/thread?165859
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165859op-er-ating sys-tem? whats that?

Win-Doze?

um... i dont think i have those... i have a Dell... i think? right?

what every it is.... i know its version... 3.0Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:14:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (tryphcycle)Commentslook... http://www.osnews.com/thread?165862
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165862people (meaning the general puplic) dont switch, because they dont know there is anything to switch. let alone knowing they have any options on what to switch to!

for a very large chunk of computer users... that may be aware they have a "COM-PU-TER" and they may know where the start button is... but as far as the "OP-ER-ATE-ING SYS-TOM" "...oh... um, maybe my son knows.... hey a computer genious"

the common PC... is just a toster for most....

POP quiz..... dont look! what brand of toaster do you have in your kitchen RIGHT NOW?

i bet 4 out of 5 people get that question wrong!

and that is why people dont switch!Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:24:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (tryphcycle)CommentsRE: Simplehttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165863
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165863yea.... sure!Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:24:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (tryphcycle)CommentsGeezhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165868
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165868Even people in the industry have no idea, how do you expect the person on the street to?

The amount of real knowledge out there is limited and most people just get sucked into the 30sec info they are bombarded with on Television (Drug of a Nation, feeding ignorance, breeding missinformation).

Sorry, I couldn't but help quote that line.

Companies like Microsoft Understand this as does Apple but unfortunately for Apple they missed the boat when the PC industry took off. Then again they have their crappy IPod which every man, woman, child and dog has (another crap product for the masses).Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:39:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (blitze)CommentsRE[9]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165876
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165876To sum it up...

People are not stupid.
They don't care about how stuff works.
When stuff doesn't work, they think they are stupid.

My car came with an engine. If I want, I could put a different engine in it for whatever reason I could figure on.

Average person: Why bother changing the engine if it gets me from Point A to Point B?

Fanatical or more technical person: But I want to go fast as or be more fuel efficient to get from Point A to Point B?

All of my computers came with Windows (or built with high end hardware so only have Windows drivers available), does what I need it to do, and runs the software that I like to run. I sm technical and have used Linux in the past but then again I like to keep life simple and not invest in more time than I have to learn or deal with something so inconsequential for me to get from Point A to Point B.

If I recommend a home O/S for people, it is always either Mac OS X or Windows, never Linux, depending on the needs and skill set of the person. In fact, I'd go all Apple myself if I didn't enjoy gaming and have lots of PC hardware lying around. That'll probably change if Apple puts some decent high end video cards in the Intel iMacs.

My two cents...BrissietexWed, 27 Sep 2006 00:08:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (brissietex)CommentsFrom someone who hasn't switched ...http://www.osnews.com/thread?165915
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165915Being a Windows power user myself, the reason why I haven't switched is because I can't see myself better off on another OS than I am now. When somebody tries to convince me to switch, they often talk about instability, spyware, and other problems I just don't have personally.

And then when they run out of arguments, they start throwing around words like 'evil', 'freedom', etc. Once they've gotten to that point, there's really no point in discussing the issue any further. If you want to accuse me of being immoral because you don't like the license of the applications I use, there's just not a whole lot I have to say to you.Wed, 27 Sep 2006 01:28:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (WorknMan)CommentsRE[2]: Teleshopping?http://www.osnews.com/thread?165938
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165938Unfortunately I don't speak german. Its only english for me so we can disregard the infomercial request. Darn.Wed, 27 Sep 2006 02:44:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (TaterSalad)CommentsRE: Wrong statementhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?165997
http://www.osnews.com/thread?165997If the alternatives to windows were so much better, many people would switch, but they are not.

I think you're onto something interesting here. In what way is Windows better than the others? My answer; it's better in terms of widespread adoption. What this means is that Windows' best feature is its monopoly. That's a fairly depressing thought IMO.Wed, 27 Sep 2006 08:18:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (bogomipz)CommentsGreat article! http://www.osnews.com/thread?166013
http://www.osnews.com/thread?166013I think I found a typo:
"With involvement is ment:" should rather be "With involvement is meant:"
The text is next to the explanation chart.

So if this is my only criticism I'd guess that's a fairly high praise, considering what kind of person I am

I have never really told anybody to switch to linux.
Why? The answer is quite simple:
Most of the smart and geeky guys I know already have switched.
The rest should really stay on Windows because I don't want to be the local linux geek keeping their pcs running.

If I had one cent for every time I fixed or reinstalled a broken Windows... you get it.
I'm just glad all the guys I know don't come running to me all the time because they know .
Their damn machines are buggy and full of crap-ware all the time but I just don't care anymore.
And this is why:
If I had one cent for every time I told them "DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN" and they did it again - well, Bill Gates would seem a very poor person to me.

So my bottomline is:
Only the guys who care to take advice switch and that's a good thing(tm).Wed, 27 Sep 2006 09:28:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (RandomGuy)CommentsRE[2]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?166015
http://www.osnews.com/thread?166015"The overwhelming majority of people get their OS installed when they buy their machines."
"If there are insufficient incentives, then nobody changes. Linux and OS X, while good alternatives, aren't good enough for most people to justify the migration."

The interesting question is "Would they be good enough if THEY came pre-installed on most computers?"
I'm pretty sure they would in the majority of cases.Wed, 27 Sep 2006 09:35:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (Soulbender)CommentsRE[2]: Wrong statementhttp://www.osnews.com/thread?166045
http://www.osnews.com/thread?166045I don't think that Windows are better then linux*, but I don't really think that linux in general are better then windows on the desktop. And switching OS is a complicated and time consuming process, so for a user to switch, there need to be a good reason, and I don't think there in general are that right now.

*When saying Linux, i really mean: The different linux distributions based on the linux kernel, not the linux kernel itself.Wed, 27 Sep 2006 11:55:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (mtilsted)CommentsRE[3]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?166053
http://www.osnews.com/thread?166053or stamped as free-loading hippies because they have figured out that money isnt everything Wed, 27 Sep 2006 12:22:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (hobgoblin)CommentsRE[3]: Motohttp://www.osnews.com/thread?166054
http://www.osnews.com/thread?166054and your probably right. didnt mac os have one hell of a upturn the years when third partys could licence it?Wed, 27 Sep 2006 12:25:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (hobgoblin)CommentsHave to agree...http://www.osnews.com/thread?166064
http://www.osnews.com/thread?166064When the vast majority of windows programmers are running 2 tier web servers, they learned from "Learn Asp.Net in 24 hours." then, j2ee is going to be a tough sell.

Of course, they'd be FAR BETTER PROGRAMMERS, get paid more and respected, if they learned j2ee, but, that's time consuming work. But, the real issue this article doesn't address is windows is losing or has completely lost the top end.

According to whom? *NIX users? Let's go on about lack of software and hardware support, people need this in order to care about switching. Oh wait, this has been discussed a million times before. Alright, let's go on with the difficulty in doing things that are quite simply done in Windows. Oh wait, this has been discussed a million times before. Hmm, let's talk about the fact that Windows is pre-installed on PC's and is advertized and really requires no alternative to most people, oh right, it's already been discussed a million times already. My mistake.

It's pretty bad when a psychological investigation is made in order to understand why people won't switch. The answer is so simple.Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:12:00 GMTdonotreply@osnews.com (astroraptor)CommentsRE: From someone who hasn't switched ...http://www.osnews.com/thread?166114
http://www.osnews.com/thread?166114"Being a Windows power user myself, the reason why I haven't switched is because I can't see myself better off on another OS than I am now."

well.... thats exactly WHY i switched.... i am a windows power user my self (pat me on the back, thanks you very much) and now... i have become and OSX and Linux "power user"..... so i guess that make me MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU!!!